Kaitlyn Clay, Staff Writer, [email protected]
During a special North Harrison Community School Corp. Board of Trustees meeting Thursday evening, Kristina Gunter was chosen to take the vacant seat of the late Veronica Battista.
Gunter, a long-time resident of Morgan Township and 1987 graduate of North Harrison High School, has a history built on love and respect for the North Harrison community. She has worked as a physician’s assistant for 21 years and is currently employed by Orthopedic Surgeons of Harrison County.
She and her husband, Rick, who has been a teacher for 23 years at NHHS, have three children who have gone through the North Harrison school system. Their oldest son, Garrett, is a student at the University of Southern Indiana, and their other two children, Nick and Grace, are juniors at NHHS.
Kristina Gunter has been attending school board meetings consistently for the past four years and attributes her passion for North Harrison as to the reason why she felt the need to attend them, saying she also had interest in potentially running in the future and wanted to learn more about how the board worked before doing so.
After last month’s passing of Battista, who served as board president for 10 years, and the opening of her at-large seat, Gunter decided it was time to put her name in the running and work to better the North Harrison school corporation.
She said she never intended to run against Battista or Kerry Ingle, the Morgan Township representative on the board, as she believed they both were doing exceptional jobs and she believed the dynamic of the board members was positive and productive.
“I plan to continue on the legacy of passion and perseverance Veronica had in striving to ensure the North Harrison Community schools are at an optimal level for educators, students and the community,” Gunter said. “With the pandemic, it is obvious education is on the forefront of change, and my goal is to help guide the corporation through these changes that will affect not only our children, but parents and teachers.”
The board voted 3-1 to select Gunter over the other 15 applicants, with Eric Stroud in opposition.
Stroud said he was very excited to begin working with Gunter and that he only opposed the vote because he believed there were a few applicants with more experience.
With more than a dozen applicants interested in the vacant position, all board members explained how difficult of a decision it was.
“I want to congratulate Kristina and welcome her to the board,” said Marla Adams, who was elected board president in January. “I also want to congratulate everyone who submitted an application. This just goes to show how loving and strong the North Harrison community is, as everyone who applied expressed how important this school system is to them.”
The board also unanimously passed a joint resolution in opposition to House Bill 1005, Senate Bill 412 and SB 413, which are all currently being debated in the state legislature. The bills, which would extend eligibility to receive vouchers to families who have a household income of $145,000, would pull money from funds originally dedicated to traditional public schools.
“I’m truly disheartened by these bills,” Dr. Lance Richards, superintendent of NHCSC, said. “I don’t understand the state’s thought process or the dollar amount they have chosen to include in these bills. We have terrific public schools in Indiana, and I hate that we are trying to give money that funds them away. I encourage everyone to reach out to our state representatives immediately.”
The board’s regular meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) at 7 p.m. in the North Harrison Middle School cafeteria in Ramsey.
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Gunter selected to fill vacant board seat - Corydon Democrat
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